“Ryan Garcia is lying about wanting to fight Kur,” Bernie said. “He’s milking that WBC world title.”
The criticism did not stop there. Bernie pointed to Teofimo Lopez as the opponent he believes Ryan is actually targeting, suggesting that direction makes more sense from a risk standpoint than a fight with Stevenson. He linked that view to Teofimo’s recent form, arguing that the former champion is a softer target at this stage.
“He wants Teofimo,” Davis said, calling the pick a calculated move on Garcia’s part.
Ryan continues to mention Stevenson’s name, creating fan interest suggesting a clash is possible. Bernie sees through this. He believes the public talk is a smokescreen of the real plan, with Shakur’s name acting as a placeholder to hold fans while Ryan’s team looks for another path.
The WBC belt complicates the situation. Having a world title carries expectations about the quality of opponents, and Davis questions this by suggesting the focus is on protecting the belt rather than testing it against the elite.
Teofimo remains in the mix as a marquee name with a CV to match, despite the growing questions surrounding his recent form. It’s precisely that mix of star power and potential weakness that Davis sees as the draw, making him a far more attractive target for Garcia than a high-risk assignment against Stevenson.
Ryan remains silent on the claims, and while the rumor mill is spinning, nothing is official. The names are doing the rounds, but the true path forward is a mystery. Davis admits that Garcia’s talk about Stevenson makes for a good story, but he doesn’t buy it as a realistic plan.
